Ion function hair dryers come under scrutiny

BERLIN (dpa) – Negative ion function hair dryers promise to achieve beautiful, healthy hair free from static. But a new study by Germany’s consumer organisation Stiftung Warentest has found that ion dryers are hardly any different from their conventional cousins.

The results of the study are published in the January edition of the organisation’s “Test” magazine.

According to the report there is no evidence that the ion particles that come into contact with the hair create more volume or make hair less brittle.

Hair dried with ion function dryers was not especially soft either. But the study did reveal that ion dryers are good for people with long flowing hair.

The stream of ion particles did help reduce static build-up. Ion function hair dryers work by creating an electrical field where negatively charged particles are generated. The particles are blown with the hot air onto the hair where they are supposed to neutralise the positively charges particles that create an unwanted “fluffy” look.

Jens Dagne from Germany’s hairdresser association, Intercoiffure Deutschland, says the ion particles also break up water molecules helping to dry hair faster. That means less hot air that can damage your hair. The remaining water molecules that have not evaporated are absorbed into the strands of hair thanks to their small size. That helps keep hair healthy and moist, which in turn, keeps it shiny and strong.

According to the report in “Test” hair dryers both with and without the ion function had their own drawbacks.

Overall the products tested this year were better than the hair dryers tested in an earlier report in 2009, however, three models failed the test for long-term durability.

Of the 13 ion function dryers tested, one was given the best performance score, six were ranked second, three were ranked as “Satisfactory” and one was “Sufficient.”

Of the five models without ion technology two were ranked as “Good” and three as “Insufficient”.